Fanfic
Drew meets Angel
Part 4
Cat's Out of the Bag!
"Would you like some coffee Ms?"
"It's just Angel Sam, no Ms needed."
"Thank you Angel and Sam is perfect for me."
Sam chuckled, Mr Johnston laughed and Angel giggled. Sam's smile got even bigger then as she asked Angel once again about her coffee.
"Oh Sam, do you have any flavoured creamer?"
"What flavour would you like Angel?"
"Southern Butter Pecan, please."
"It will take but a minute to get."
Sam then poured Angel's coffee leaving enough room for the creamer. She left
for just about a minute's time when she returned with it.
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Part 4
Each of the department heads for the Sentinel was hard at work. The rumours and the facts that they had heard and gathered since this new reporter's arrival made them nervous. Mr Johnston is well known for instantly replacing people who cross him, or even fail to carry out his directives. They also knew, Mr Johnson would no doubt be replacing the CEO at headquarters. They could ill afford to not be prepared and forewarned, of anything Mr Johnston was planning. Each had started their own inquiries into Angel O'Hare's history. They had to be discreet, and none of the information gathered could fall into anyone else's hands. If this information did fall into the wrong hands, it would end their careers for sure. The secretary pool and the different social circles were buzzing with gossip about the 'new girl.' Rumours ran rampant through and by the water coolers.
The small group of girls that had lunch with Angel were busy listening and gathering intel from many different sources. 90% of which were just silly. Some though were fairly interesting and the girls were also doing some checking of their own. From the women's sports apparel department, Misty had had the privilege of seeing her bosses desk covered with different printouts on Angel O'Hare. She quickly scanned them and now she really knew this girl was one smart little girl! This girl's childhood read like something for a protégée in two disciplines; singing and modelling. There was a gap though and after which it seems Angel just concentrated on her education. From grade school to home schooling to high school, and then straight into college, skipping a few grades and finishing college early. That's all that Misty had learned.
Prue, from the sports equipment department found out a bit more from her boss. Her boss trusted her to keep a secret and to keep her word, something
Misty is not known to be good at, at all. Prue was careful to only let Maggie, Kimmie and Cat know what she had learned. The others already knew not to let Misty know of any confidential intel. It only took a few minutes when Misty's news was known through out the building! Prue's news was that Angel had a name change and some other changes made to her records. What those were exactly, Prue didn't know. Not yet anyway. She did have her ideas on the matter though.
From children's sports, Maggie had hit on a bonanza of information! She had concentrated on the rumours of what Angel's assignment was and now she eagerly shared with the others. She didn't gather much intel on Angel herself though. Angel was not registered anywhere for any type of sports activity.
Kimmie from sports health likewise didn't find anything on Angel, but she did score big on the Bond family. Particularly a Drew and Gabby, Gabby was listed several times with two different last names. The first name is Bond and the second found is Peters. Nothing she could do helped her dig deeper into Angel's history other than what Maggie and Prue already knew. Cat from the news desk scored the biggest on Angel's past as she found in the archives of a small towns newspaper. She told the others about the scandal of a boy pretending to be a girl for a national choir competition. This boy and the choir he had sung for had won the competition, but after that expose was printed, nothing more was reported. Someone with a lot of money sued the paper, the reporter and even had several people in that town arrested and charged with child cruelty and she had won every case! The reporter now works for one of those supermarket tabloids. Cat even had a few pictures and that little boy sure didn't look like a little oy at all. He looked like a beautiful little girl, and his name in that mode had been Angel. The secret was out!
Connie, the receptionist, had bits and pieces of news. With her input everyone put together the scenario and between Angel and the story she had been assigned to gelled, they knew they had found the truth about this 'new girl.' Now, they had to keep this news from Misty at all costs! If this got out, Angel could be in for a real rough time of it. These girls felt something for Angel and would help her as best they could. They couldn't but help liking this new girl. She had that hidden quality few people have. That feeling one gets when they meet someone like her; a comfortable feeling, one that fosters trust and a feeling that you can talk to her about anything and she will listen and be there for you. They also loved her giggles and she is a beautiful girl.
--^^--
Mr. Johnston chuckled seeing the _expression on Angel's face as she took her first sip of coffee. If one could show utter happiness as they took a drink, Angel sure just did. He thought, 'she must love that stuff,' and he chuckled again when she made the same _expression for her second sip. Angel looked up and said,
"I'm sorry, but ever since 13, I just have loved and have lived on this stuff. This restaurant serves a quality coffee!"
He chuckled again and Sam their waitress/want-a-be waiter smiled. Sam said, "Angel, I would be happy to get you some of this coffee to take with you. I mean, I can get it in the whole bean style or already ground."
Angel's smile got even bigger and she said, "Oh Sam. That would be wonderful! I'll take the whole bean style if you can manage it. I have my own grinder and that's the only way I buy my coffee."
Sam dashed off and Mr. Johnston just started laughing out loud. This girl had it all, if she was this good as a reporter in the field, he had no worries.
While Sam was gone, they went over what Angel would do and say at the board meeting. Surprisingly, once again Angel proved to be a very smart diplomat. In just a few words she would set everyone at ease and leave the ball in their court, hence, making them the responsible parties for what ever happened. It would be their decision on Angel's fate and Mr. Johnston new that she would be safe. Any department head or board officer to fight this move would put their career in jeopardy and he knew, none of them would do that for this plan of his.
--^^--
Sam returned with a much larger bag of coffee beans than Angel was expecting. The surprised _expression on her face set both Sam and Mr. Johnston laughing so hard that Angel began to giggle uncontrollably. What a scene they made and their laughter rang through the hallway. Soon enough though several people from the kitchen wheeled in carts laden with covered dishes, and Angel's eyes popped right out of her head. Mr. Johnston and Sam started laughing again and Mr. Johnston said, "Angel, stop making those expressions! I'll never be able to eat and we won't get anything else accomplished if you keep making me laugh so hard."
Angel just shook her head and wondered why so much food was brought up. She knew what she ordered or what Mr. Johnston ordered for her, and it shouldn't be this much stuff! Sure enough, just two covered dishes were placed in front of her and just three in front of Mr. Johnston. That left two laden carts off to the side. Before Angel could say anything Mr. Johnston said, "In case you're wondering, and I know you are Angel, there will be three others joining us shortly."
They had just started eating when Alysson entered with three others. They were all older people, two men and a woman. Mr. Johnston stood up and Angel seeing this also stood up a second after he did. They smiled and greeted Mr. Johnston like old friends, especially the older woman. Angel figured she must be at least 70 years old. Mr. Johnston did the introductions.
"Mrs. Pinchon, this is Ms Angel O'Hare, Mr. Gregory..., and Mr. Lavender..., and so it went until they were all seated once more and the others served. Mrs. Pinchon said,
"Well Angel, is it alright if I call you Angel?"
"Please do Mrs. Pinchon, I'd feel more comfortable if you did."
"As I expected dear; Angel, your assignment is a very important one and the time you can spend on it is limited. I have already found out that a few of the vultures have learned of your arrival and are hard at work trying to find out what your assignment is. I'm afraid it won't be long before other papers and magazines will be hard at work scrambling to put together teams to beat you to the punch. Therefore, we have moved up your schedule and your assignment is no longer to be one of keeping your distance and being careful. You are to approach Drew and warn him as soon as possible. How you do that is up to you dear. I must stress that it is vital that you move as quickly as possible or that poor child could be traumatized. Something we at this table know that you know how that is by actual experience, don't we?"
Angel just gave her that knowing look and her _expression showed that she indeed remembered all to clearly of that incident so long ago, which really wasn't that long ago. It's just that Angel had come so far since then, it seemed like an eternity ago that it had happened. Everyone saw that _expression on Angel's face and saw her body react and they felt for this child. Yes, to them she was but a child. A child that had experienced and lived through much more than most adults have in their entire lives.
Angel got herself together, looked up at each of them, nodded, smiled and gave them the _expression that Mrs. Pinchon could now continue. She did, and said,
"Angel, Mr. Johnston will soon be moving to the corporate office. One of the reasons we are here is to inform him of a decision that we reached in a private meeting. That means that you will be included in this move. We are doing this because we cannot leave you to the wolves so-to-speak, and Mr. Johnston spared no effort in recruiting you. He fought us, I'm afraid to admit, but he won out and I am glad he did. Now that I have met you, I know he was right.
Mr. Gregory, if you will please."
Mr. Gregory stood and walked to a table that was near the entrance and retrieved his briefcase. He returned to the table, sat down, opened his case and pulled out a large sealed manila envelope. He smiled and handed it to Mr. Johnston and said,
"Look these over carefully James, make sure that everything is satisfactory to you."
Mr. Johnston did just that and his facial _expression went from one of controlled surprise to one of a huge grin and look of happiness times ten. Angel couldn't help herself and giggled at his expressions as they changed. This started everyone chuckling and then laughing out loud. Angel just giggled as usual, she just couldn't laugh, she did giggle in different intensities though.
Mrs. Pinchon continued by saying, "Welcome to corporate James. Your predecessor has already vacated the office suite he occupied and you are to start moving your choice of personnel from here to your offices immediately. That is subject to our approval of course. We can't just abandon the Sentinel of all the quality people in one swift move. Angel's things are being moved as we speak because she will be leaving shortly to Germany and when she returns, she will be returning to the corporate headquarters.
"Angel, I know this is all a bit disconcerting to you, but we had to move on this and move very quickly. Just know that you have the corporate office and all that we can bring to bear to help you and the Bonds. Mr. Lavender here will be accompanying you on your trip. He is our head of corporate security and I now ask you and Mr. Lavender to adjourn to the other side of the room to plan your trip.
"Oh, by the way, I have scheduled you into the salon here in, (she checks her watch and continues) one hour from now. I hope you don't mind my boldness, but I had one of our secretaries go to your apartment and select things for you for your trip. Of course she was instructed to just pick things from your closet and stay out of your personal things other than for shoes and dresses. You have your Sentinal credit card and I must ask you to give that to Mr. Lavender. He has a new card for you. You can use the new card to purchase any personal things you will need here at the hotel shops."
Mrs. Pinchon smiled and nodded to Angel and Mr. Lavender. Mr. Lavender stood and held his hand out to Angel which she accepted. They moved to the opposite side of the room and Mr. Lavender once again opened his briefcase.
Mr. Lavender as head of corporate security knew the most about Angel O'Hare. Ever since James had insisted he be allowed to recruit, train, and assign this particular job to her, Mr. Lavender spent no time at all before he launched a thorough and complete investigation of her, her friends and family. He knew more about her old friends and enemies than Angel did herself!
He was very impressed with her skills and her no nonsense ability to get right to the gist of things. Their meeting of the minds on this project jumped way ahead of the scheduled time he had originally planned on spending with her. After only 30 minutes, he said, "Alright Angel, you have got things down as good as they can be for now. One of my assistants will be with you at all times from now on." He pulled out his cell phone and pressed a button. Soon he said, "Karen, she's ready, you can come in and you now have an extra 30 minutes to shop."
Mr. Lavender laughed and said, "I knew you would enjoy that part Karen. OK, we will see you in a minute."
Angel, you will like Ms Karen Page. She is like you are. In that I mean she was once thought to be a boy as well. It took her much longer to realize and act on her feelings though. I think you two will get along fabulously.
Just then Alysson came in after a discrete knock and a pretty woman slightly older than Angel came in with her. She walked right to them, smiled and said,
"Oh Angel, I can't wait to start shopping! Come on girl, what are you waiting for?"
Mr. Lavender laughed and said.
"Probably this Karen," and he handed Angel an envelope and continued, "And I will need your old card please."
Angel giggled and handed him her brand new, never used Sentinal credit card. Mr. Lavender then made the introductions as Karen just raised and rolled her eyes. This made Angel giggle even more and a second later they were both giggling and heading out the door. The other table was deep into what ever they were talking about so Angel thought best to just leave them alone.
Karen was everything and more of what Mr. Lavender described her as. She and Angel hit it off right away and soon were giggling away as Karen took the lead and had her trying on the most outrageously expensive outfits. Angel would have dresses, skirts, and shoes. So, they concentrated on slacks, blouses, more shoes and accessories. They spent an ungodly amount of money in just 20 minutes. It was time to get Angel to the salon and Karen had everything and I mean each step planned ahead of time.
To be continued...
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